Bending brake...

tshort · Post by **tshort** » Fri May 20, 2005 6:03 pm

Any thoughts on this...
I made a great brake (hardest part was finding the pieces of straight lumber) out of 2 x 8 and used it to bend the rudder TE. After a few weeks of sitting in the basement when I went to use it for the elevators the boards had warped significantly (enough to render it unusable). I seem to remember the wood was somewhat green initially.

What to do? Obviously I need a new brake; however, if I can't find dry wood how do I keep this from happening again? If I buy wet wood and allow it to dry again the same result will likely happen.

Anyone else had similar problems?

Thomas

captain_john · Post by **captain_john** » Fri May 20, 2005 8:58 pm

Ummmm, well if you wanna use the same lumber (and nothing is wrong with that) run it through the board stretcher (a.k.a. thickness planer)!

It'll come out straighter than it was on day one! Then Polyurethane it to seal out humidity and prevent it from absorbing any moisture in the future!

...either that or make a new one out of poplar or oak.

I would choose the first.

CJ

Snap · Post by **Snap** » Tue May 24, 2005 12:05 am

umm... whats poplar?

Don't know that name. What would we call it here downunder?

captain_john · Post by **captain_john** » Tue May 24, 2005 5:56 am

GAWD only knows what you might call it down under!!!

Hahaha, you people talk so damn FUNNY down there!

Seriously, it is a wood that looks like white oak, but has less grain to it... if you will. It costs less than oak for us. Not sure where it is grown. I suspect in our western states, as it isn't prevalent around here on the east coast.

I suggested it because it holds its shape well and isn't expensive.

CJ

Snap · Post by **Snap** » Tue May 24, 2005 7:04 am

you know what we have done here?

Pine, Pine and more Pine!!

They seem to have a heap of plantations all over this country.
See them from the air where ever I go and then there are the Pine Furniture shops. GAWD!!

What ever happend to silky oak? Such a nice bit of timber.

Post by **Spike** » Tue May 24, 2005 7:24 am

Sounds like you need to visit our forests out here. Actually, sounds like you need to just visit out here. Ever been to Oshkosh?

-- Spike

Submitted via email

captain_john · Post by **captain_john** » Tue May 24, 2005 3:13 pm

We got plenty o' SCRUB pine around here in Plymouth, MA. The "scrub" means they only grow to 20 or 40 feet tall are all deformed from numerous forest fires. We also have lots of princess pines and some various hardwoods like elm and a few oaks.

I hear Oshkosh is nice this time of year!

Come on up, Snap!

CJ

Snap · Post by **Snap** » Tue May 24, 2005 7:29 pm

one day we will all be there in our own tent/VIP area.

Could you just imagine it? 'So you were one of the first rivetbagers huh? Yep, thats right.
Cool man!!'

I have a great imagination

I would love to be there. Just wish I could.

Maybe one day.

jim_geo · Post by **jim_geo** » Wed May 25, 2005 1:33 am

Poplar is also known by the common name Cotton wood. Around my parts it is also mistakenly called Weaping Willow. Clear Pine in large dimensions of 2"x6" would probably work for you Snap. Although Personally I'm going to be building my Emp jig and possibly my bend accentuator out of partical board since I can control the dimensional stability to a much finer degree and possibly avoid having to use any shims. I'll post pix once I have them built if there's any interest.

mustang · Post by **mustang** » Wed May 25, 2005 2:31 am

Poplar is not the same wood as Cottonwood. Poplar is quite strong compared to Cottonwood, which is possibly the weakest of all wood.
Cheers, Pete

jim_geo · Post by **jim_geo** » Wed May 25, 2005 3:39 am

Well not to get into a big thing about it, those names for poplar seem to be interchangable here in the North West. Frankly I wouldn't use the stuff for anything that mattered. I do remember my Dad having a poplar drawing board that had a much different texture and color than what grows around here.